Article

Intelligent Transport Systems

On-board navigation system — Source: BMV

The deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) is an indispensable element for tackling the challenges of the 21^st century in the field of road transport.

Intelligent Transport Systems use information and communications technologies (ICT) to capture, transmit, process and exchange traffic-related data and information. The use of information and communication technologies is also referred to as ‘telematics’ for short. Therefore, in the context of roadside installations, the terms ‘intelligent transport systems’ and ‘road transport telematics’ are often used interchangeably.

Intelligent Transport Systems encompass all stakeholders (organizations and road users), including their technical systems, as well as the interfaces with other transport modes. The focus is on intelligent vehicle and infrastructure systems which, by cooperating with each other, can make road transport safer, more efficient and more environmentally friendly.

The increasing availability and use of quality-assured traffic information can improve traffic management systems operated on federal trunk roads as well as on other busy road segments, such as in cities. For example, service providers can calculate traffic-aware routes by linking this information to data, such as road closures and traffic jams, that is relevant for the individual journey. The same applies to timetable information and delays when planning local public transport journeys.

Intelligent Transport Systems play a significant role in the digital transformation of the mobility sector. The Federal Ministry of Transport is therefore committing to intelligent transport infrastructure and increased use of transport telematics as well as state-of-the-art information and communication systems.

Since transport does not stop at national borders and national transport routes are also used by vehicles and travellers on international journeys, it is necessary to promote cross-border specifications. The Federal Ministry of Transport is actively involved in relevant committees at the European level to promote the development of harmonized Intelligent Transport Systems and their interfaces with other modes of transport, as well as their implementation in national and European projects.

Directive 2010/40/EU

Directive 2010/40/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2010 on intelligent transportation systems establishes a framework to support the coordinated and coherent deployment and use of Intelligent Transport Systems in the Union and sets out the necessary conditions for this. The ITS Directive was most recently amended on 22 November 2023 by Directive 2023/2661/EU and authorizes the European Commission, in consultation with the Member States, to develop and apply specifications and standards for the following priority areas:

ITS information and mobility services;
ITS travel, transport and traffic management services;
ITS road safety services; and
ITS cooperative, connected and automated mobility services.

Priority actions for the development and use of specifications and standards in the priority areas are:

provision of EU-wide multi-modal travel information services;
provision of EU-wide real-time traffic information services;
data and procedures for the provision, where possible, of road safety related minimum universal traffic information free of charge to users;
harmonised provision for an interoperable EU-wide eCall;
provision of information services for safe and secure parking places for trucks and commercial vehicles;
provision of reservation services for safe and secure parking places for trucks and commercial vehicles. Specifications for some of the above measures have been issued since 2013 in the form of delegated regulations and some of them have already been amended.

The delegated regulations are directly applicable; that is, unlike the ITS Directive – which must be transposed into national law – they are to be applied directly within their respective scopes of application, provided that a corresponding ITS service is introduced or the relevant data is made available.

Among other things, the delegated regulations stipulates that Member States must designate a “national body” to conduct random checks to verify that the road, traffic and travel data provided by data providers through the “National Access Point” complies with the delegated regulation.

The interoperable EU-wide eCall service was the first ITS service to be made mandatory by Decision No. 585/2014/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014.

EU regulatory framework for ITS

Intelligent Transport Systems Act (IVSG)

As a result of the revision of the ITS Directive of 22 November 2023, the national Intelligent Transport Systems Act had to be amended. This amendment was finalized with the Act to Reform the Legal Framework for Intelligent Transport Systems in Road Traffic and Their Interfaces with Other Modes of Transport, and for Data Provision via the National Access Point of 15 May 2026, which was published in the Federal Law Gazette (Part I, No. 148) on 20 May 2026. This also means that the Intelligent Transport Systems Act (IVSG) has been revised.

The Federal Highway and Transport Research Institute (BASt) is responsible for and performs the functions of the “national body”. It operates the Mobilithek national access point, which allows third parties to use mobility data free of charge.

Information on the eCall

The pan-European eCall (automated emergency call) is an interoperable EU-wide emergency call system which automatically transmits a minimum set of data to the responsible rescue coordination centre (public safety answering point - PSAP) in the case of an accident and establishes a voice connection to this PSAP. It uses the single EU emergency number 112. The minimum set of data consists, inter alia, of the precise location, the approximate direction of travel as well as the vehicle identification number. The vehicle's position is determined by using data received from satellite positioning systems via the corresponding receivers. To be able to automatically make the emergency call and transmit the minimum set of data, new types of passenger cars are equipped with an in-vehicle mobile communications unit. The core of the unit is a “dormant SIM card” that is deactivated during normal operation and will be activated if the airbag deploys or if eCall is triggered manually by a vehicle occupant.

The use of eCall makes it possible to initiate the necessary rescue operations much more quickly and efficiently than before. Therefore, eCall helps to save lives as the first 10 minutes following an accident are critical for survival. Since March 31, 2018, it has been mandatory in Europe to install an on-board eCall system. This obligation only applies to new vehicle types that are granted approval (so-called type approval) in the Member States of the European Union. The basis for the introduction of the in-vehicle eCall system is Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/758, as amended by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2014/1084 of 6 February 2024.

In January 2026, several mobile network operators officially launched the new Next Generation Emergency Call (NG eCall) system on their networks. Unlike the previous system, NG eCall no longer uses the approximately 40-year-old 2G (GSM) mobile communications technology to establish the emergency call; this technology is scheduled to be phased out in 2028 (see also FAQ). Instead, the connection is established via the more modern 4G (LTE) network and, in the future, 5G will be used. This means that, in an emergency, location and vehicle data reach emergency call centres easier than before.

Frequently asked questions about eCall

How will the deactivation of 2G cellular networks starting in 2028 affect the eCall emergency call system in my vehicle?

The Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) has published an updated technical notice (in German) on this topic.

The manufacturer of my vehicle offers its own automatic emergency call system. How does this system relate to eCall?

To date, an automatic emergency call has been offered by some passenger car manufacturers as a private service. These systems continue to be approved as TPS (Third Party Service) eCall systems. With the mandatory introduction of the pan-European eCall, the car owner has the right to choose between the TPS eCall and the 112-based uniform Europe-wide eCall system. Passenger car manufacturers are required to provide the car owner with information on the factory-installed systems in the operating instructions. If the car owner opts for the manufacturer's service option, the pan-European eCall system initially remains inactive. In the event of a failure of the eCall system provided by the manufacturer, the 112-based eCall system is activated automatically. The passenger car manufacturer must ensure reliable functioning of this switch-over.

I bought a new car. Does the eCall system have to be pre-installed in it?

In accordance with uniform Europe-wide requirements, after 31 March 2018, type approvals for new types of passenger cars may only be granted if they are fitted with the uniform pan-European eCall system. If the type approval for a passenger car was issued before 31 March 2018, the vehicle does not have to be delivered with an eCall system ex factory. Owners of passenger car types approved before 31 March 2018 thus have no right to have their vehicle retrofitted with an eCall system. This can only be done on a voluntary basis.

Is the eCall system only mandatory for passenger cars or also for HGVs and motorcycles?

The system is mandatory for vehicle categories M1 (vehicles used for the carriage of passengers and comprising no more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat) and N1 (vehicles used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass not exceeding 3.5 tonnes). Europe-wide uniform eCall systems are currently not mandatory for HGVs and motorcycles. The I_HeeRO EU research project has gathered findings on the eCall function for motorcycles and HGVs. These also serve as a basis for further consultations between the European Commission and the EU Member States.

How does eCall work if I travel abroad?

The provisions on eCall apply in all EU countries. When eCall is triggered manually or automatically in another European country, the uniform pan-European eCall will dial the Europe-wide 112 emergency number and establish a connection in the national language to the responsible rescue coordination centre. The minimum set of data is transmitted at the same time and is thus available for the emergency services to initiate rescue measures quickly.

In contrast, the TPS eCall contacts the responsible service provider who recognizes the language setting of the vehicle and establishes contact with the driver in the selected language.

What about data protection?

The 112-based eCall in-vehicle system and the TPS eCall service must in any case comply with the data privacy provisions laid down in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1084. Personal data may only be used for specific emergency situations and must not be retained longer than necessary for this purpose.

The vehicle manufacturer is obliged to take the necessary steps to ensure that the 112-based eCall in-vehicle system is not subject to constant tracking in its normal operational status. The manufacturer must further ensure that the data in the internal memory of the system are automatically and continuously removed and are not accessible to any other device than the in-vehicle system before the eCall is activated. Tracking the vehicle’s movements by means of the eCall system is therefore not permitted.